The dragon-kin looked at me for a split second before turning his strange eyes toward Morrense. “Official business,” he said gruffly. “I don’t have permission to discuss the details.”
I blinked. A simple question from Morrense had gotten more information out of the kin than hours of my pestering had. The old man smiled a little.
“That doesn’t involve hurting anyone in the village, I trust?” There he went, asking the question we all wanted to know.
Instead of answering as straightforwardly as he had before, Levent lowered his eyes and his voice was quieter when he spoke. “Harm to civilians of the human republic is to be avoided at all costs.”
It sounded like he was quoting a rulebook of some kind, which was unnerving, but if I were to cut out the jargon, it sounded sincere enough. Morrense was a little less trusting.
“Is that so?”
Levent opened his mouth to say something more, but he was interrupted as a metal pot crashed through my front window and clattered to the floor. The dragon-kin and I were on our feet in a moment, and I ran to help Morrense off of the bench.
“What the devil?” The old man snarled as he hobbled to the back of the room.
“Come out, faun!” yelled a voice from outside. I groaned. In the time we were having our awkward tea party, the angry mob had decided to ambush my home. Did they have any idea how much a good window cost?
I rushed over to Levent, telling him straight out. “It’s probably best if you stay out of sight. I’ll handle this.” He moved away from the door, and I suddenly felt very scared. I was not brave - I never had been - but I knew how to talk like I was. Reaching down and taking the metal pot from the floor, I walked outside.
The first face I saw in the torchlight was the unpleasant visage of one of the burly strangers. He smirked hideously. I tore my eyes from his, and looked around the crowd, trying to keep my head held high. There were not only stern-looking farmers and their sons in the mob, but women as well. Though the ugly strangers truly looked bent on some punishment, I could plainly see the fear that laced the others’ serious expressions.
“Can I help you folks?” I tried to smile, but my face could not do it. I settled for a frown instead. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks already.